Brassiere



A. L. MILLER A ril 11, 1961 BRASSIERE Filed July 16, 1959 IFIE HNvE NTEI R ATTEIRNEY ALBERTA L. MILLER IFIE:

BRASSIERE Alberta L. Miller, 6130 Carvel Ave, 10, Indianapolis 20, Ind.

Filed July 16, 1959, Ser. No. 827,500

3 Claims. (Cl. 12848'4) This invention relates to an undergarment generally designated as a brassiere, and has for a primary purpose the provision of a structure which is exceedingly comfortable and easy feeling while serving as a non-rigid breast supporting means. In order to achieve that purpose, the garment is formed with a very low back at the waistline to be in the nature of a belt widened somewhat in front to serve as a stomach restraining molding element.

The supporting cups are separated from the front portion of the belt, leaving open a considerable space be tween the cups and the front portion of the belt. The cups extend upwardly diagonally forwardly from zones in the rear belt portion. There is incorporated inthe garment means for carrying supporting straps from the rear belt portion over the shoulders of the wearer to detachably engage with upper portions of a draw-string carried around the cups adjacent to the upper marginal portions thereof.

All of this is accomplished with a minimum use of materials surrounding the wearer, and with a tight fitting of the marginal edges of the cups to body of the wearer.

The invention will be better understood in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a view in front perspective of a garment embodying the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in inside elevation of the garment in an open, spread apart condition.

The garment is composed primarily of two symmetrical portions designated generally by the numerals and 11, being united in front through a central seam v12,by either a fell seam or by a seam covered with tape 13 so that there will be no raw edges exposed interiorly of the garment.

Referring to the portion 11, a front belt section 14 has anunder hemmed edge 15 rising slightly in a curved manner from the bottom end of the seam 12. The upper edge of the belt portion 14 curves upwardly sharply into an arcuate hem line 16 and thence downwardly as the belt portion 14 extends around the side portions, to a Zone designated by the numeral 17. The belt section 14 continues around into a rear portion 18 terminating in an end 19 which is reinforced by any suitable means, such as by a tape 20 to which, or under which, are attached two hooks 21.

The belt portions 14 and 18 are preferably made out of a rather thin material such as broadcloth which is substantially non-stretchable. Yet, this material making up the sections 14 and 18 is comfortable to the skin, and is a good heat dissipating means.

An upper breast pocket section 22 extends preferably integrally from the upper portion of the rear belt section 18 to slope by an upper edge 23 from the belt end 19 in an ascending manner, curving around in substantial parallelism with a lower edge 24 to a central pocket area a tion of her figure.

zone where the edge dips down by a curved length 25 and thence upwardly and around by a length 26 to a point joining with the under edge 24. This point is designated by the numeral 27. The edge 24 starts from a point 28 which is at the upper, outer end of a diagonal line 29 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from just above the zone 17 which, as indicated in the drawing, constitutes a curved end continuing from the bottom of the line 29 and around upwardly into the edge 16. That is to say, the section 22 after it leaves the belt section 18 is cut across on the line 29 to leave the narrow portion of the section 22 between the point 28 and the line 23 indicated by the letter A, Fig. 2.

This portion 22 forms the upper enclosure of the right hand cup of the garment. To complete the cup, an underside panel of cloth, preferably of the same type as that of the belt 18 and the section 22, is sewed to the section 22 along the line 24 to extend substantially at right angles inwardly therefrom. The ends of this panel designated by the numeral 36 are in the one instance secured along the line 29 to the section 22, and in the other instance along the line 31 which is in effect a free edge of the hem 32 along that edge. In this hemmed portion 32, there is a bone or corset stay 33 extending a full length of the edge 31.

A length of elastic 34 has one end fixed under the tape 32 and then has a central diagonal fold to bring the normally top edge 35 around to the underside, and the end of the elastic is engaged under the tape 36 sewed over the elastic end and to the section 22 along that diagonal line 29. The upper edge of the folded elastic tape 34 is preferably fixed by a non-elastic tape 37, the ends of the tape 37 being secured under the tape 32 and the tape 36 below the hem line 24. Preferably the lower edge portion of the panel 30 is stitched in the nature of an upwardly extending dart 38 as a means of reinforcing and also stiffening the lower edge of the panel 30. Furthermore, this panel 30 is also preferably double in thickness of cloth as compared to the single thickness of the belt sections 14 and 18 and the section 22. The stitching to make the upwardly extending dart 38 reinforces the lower edge 39 of the panel 30, which edge 39 is actually the fold line of the two thicknesses of cloth.

The fold line 39 is spaced upwardly from the edge 16 of the belt portion 14 as indicated in both views in the drawings. The line 31, if extended, would strike near the highest portion of the line 16. However as above indicated, there is an open space or gap between the under edge 39 and the top edge 16 entirely around and through the zone 17 The belt section 14 is provided with a vertically disposed bone or corset stay 40 spaced from the seam 12 to extend from the edge 16 to the lower edge 15, intermediate the highest point on the line 16 and the seam 12.

In like manner, the symmetrical half portion 10 is an exact duplicate of the portion 11 above described with the exception that it is reversed in position as indicated in Fig. 2. Therefore this portion 10 need not be explained in detail beyond the following additional members which interengage the two portions 10 and 11.

Portion 1t) isprovided with an end, inner pad 41, on the outside of which are secured eyes 42 engageable by the hooks 21 in order to complete .the securing of the belt portion around the body of the wearer, and at her-waistline, or slightly thereabove depending upon the conforma The bone 40 in each instance is covered over by a tape 43. An elastic tape 44 has one end secured under the tape 43 of the portion 10, near its upper end, and extends diagonally across to be secured to the panel '30 at the lower end of the line 31. In like manner, a tape 45 is secured by its lower end under the bone tape 4-3 of the portion 11 to extend diagonally across the tape 44 and be secured by its other end to the panel 30 of the portion 1% at the lower end of the line 31. This tape 45 is elastic as is the tape 44. The tapes 44 and 45 hold or maintain the lower corners of the panels 3%) in the position indicated in the two views in the drawing. A suspender tape 46, two in number, is secured by its lower end in each instance to the upper edge 23 adjacent the belt end 19 or the pad 41, preferably extending diagonally downwardly therefrom to be secured to the hem along the lower line 15 in each instance. These tapes 46 extend, preferably diagonally one across the other to come around and carry a hook 47.

A single drawstring in the nature of a corset lace 48 is secured by one end under the tape 20 at the belt end 19, and by its other end under the pad 41. This string extends from those ends loosely through a. loop 49 located at the point 28, through a second loop located adjacent the edge 23 near the uppermost crown of the curvature of that edge, and to one side of the central dipped portion 25, a third loop 51 on the other side of that dipped portion secured to the section 22, thence from that loop 51 to a fixed connection with the edge 26', the fixed facing being at the point 27, thence by a short length 52 aross to the other section 22 to be secured thereto at its point 27, thence upwardly through a loop 53 secured to the section 22 adjacent the clip 25, through a loop 54 secured to the section 22 at the other side of the dip 25, and downwardly through a loop 55 secured to the panel 30 at its point 228.-

Between the loops 50 and 51, the section 22 is held rigidly by a bone 56 secured under a tape 57. Likewise the section 22 of the portion 11 is held rigidly by a bone 58 under a tape 59 secured to the section 22. Thus the loops 59, 5t and 53, 54 are rigidly spaced apart.

The hook 47 of each suspended tape 46 is engaged with the lace 48 in each instance between the respective loops 50, 51 and 53,754. Preferably the hook 47 is secured to the tape 46 in each instance by being carried by a short length of tape at; loosely extending across the outer or forward side of the tape in each instance and wrapped therearound and secured to the under or rear side thereof.

The under edge 39 of each of the panels 36} is normally loose in relation to the normal positioning of the folded over tape 34. That is, the edge 39 will not be taut until the elastic 34 has been stretched somewhat. In order to give a picture of relative proportioning of one particu lar size of the garment, without limiting the invention thereto since the garment will be made in various sizes, the height of the seam 12 would be four inches; the maximum height of the edgeid would be four and one-half inches; the height of the belt section at thezone 1'7 would be approximately three and one-half inches; the height of the end 19 in the belt 14, two inches, the normal, narrowest spacing apart of the lower panel edge'39 and the edge 16 would be approximately one-half inch; the length of the lace'portion 5' .1 would be approximately one inch; the distance from the edge 39 of the panel 31) to the dip line 25 would be approximately three inches; and the maximum height of the panels would be approximately four and one-half inches. The width of the tapes 34 may of course vary, but in this one particular size described, it is preferably one and one-half inches in width, while the elastic tapes 44 and are approximately five-eighths inch in width. T he overall length of the lace 48 is made to be such that when it is pulled up tautly by the straps 46, it will not be in view any more than would be indicated in Fig. 1. In that position, this lace 48 will have pulled the marginal edge 23 snugly against the bodyof the wearer, with the lower edge 39 coming in snugly also against the body below the breast, so that there is a snug engagement of the marginal portions of the two cups around the breast for adequate support and comfort. It is to be noted that by folding the elastic 34 as indicated, it does not have to be cut, so that there is provided the diagonal stretch from the lines 29 and 31 to substantially the central portion of the line 37 leaving the lower edge 39 to be non-elastic, but eventually pulled up tautly when the lace 48 is drawn up snugly. The elastic 44 in each instance pulls at the inner corner of the panel '30 whereas the line 29 is maintained essentially stationary by being a part of the belt portion 18, while the lace 48 is tending to straighten out or rather pull the line 29 longitudinally toward the edge 23. It is to be noted that the loop 49 is spaced from the edge 23 by the length of the zone A whereas the loop 50 through which the lace 43 slides is on the line 23, and the stationary or fixed end of the lace 43 is fixed intermediate the top and bottom ends of the tapes Ztl. Also the points 27 are well below the topmost portion or" the edge 23 so that there is a tendency to straighten or pull up the boned, diagonally aligned edge portion 31.

Therefore it is to be seen that l have provided a rather unique construction of a garment for the purpose intended, and that this garment is composed essentially of light weight material with the minimum expense thereof. Also it is to be seen that there is an automatic tensioning of the cup portions of the garment into form fitting conditions. While I have herein shown the structure in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that particular form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1.'A brassiere comprising a belt in one piece and having front, side and rear portions wrapping around approximately the waist of a wearer, and detachably opening in said rear portion; the front portion of the belt rising to a height greater than the rear portion and terminating in a top edge; vertically disposed stays spaced from a vertical center line of the belt front portion maintaining said front portion in approximately vertically taut condition; upper breast pocket portions fixed to said belt rear portion, one on each side of said belt rear opening portion and extending diagonally upwardly and forwardly to terminate in opposing, spaced apart convex lines, and each having an under concave line spaced above said top edge of said belt front portion; an under pocket portion attached along said concave line in each instance and terminating in an opposing front line continuing from said upper pocket opposing line, said under portion having an under line continuing around to the side portion of said belt; a stay in each of the under pocket portion front ends extending upwardly and forwardly; a rear stay in the rear end portion of said under pocket portion extending upwardly and rearwardly, each stay extending from the concave line of each portion; said under lines of said under pocket portions being spaced above the top edge of said belt and providing an elongated opening between the belt and those pocket portions continuing from a front central opening to said belt side portions, said central opening extending upwardly from said belt and between said under and upper pocket portion opposing lines; elastic tapes extending, one each, diagonally across said central opening from each side of the center line of said belt front portion to each of said under pocket portion opposing lines; means restraining a predetermined amount of spacing apart of the combined upper and lower pocket portions across said central opening; and suspender means extending from said belt rear portion and interconnecting with uppermost portions of said upper pocket portions.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which there is a drawstring secured by opposite ends respectively to said belt rear portion at each side of said opening therein and extending therefrom and slidingly engaging each of said upper and under pocket portions at their rear upper 2,979,057 5 6 junetures approximately at the uppermost ends of said transversely extending along said upper pocket portions rear stays, said drawstring continuing forwardly and between said two upper drawstring sliding engagements. upwardly to a sliding engagement with the upper edge of said upper pocket portion and thence across an upper- References Cited in the file of this patent most length of that pocket portion to another upper 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS sliding engagement therewith, and finally down to the top of said forward stay and to opposite ends of said gg ig i a restraining means; said suspender means engaging said fi. i 1954 drawstring between said two upper sliding engagements. 79 Do at 1 e u y 3. The structure of claim 2 in which there is a stay 10 2'711'535 Cooney et June 1955 

